After the establishment of the language border, a special language regime has been introduced for certain municipalities. The residents of these municipalities with facilities located in the French or Dutch language area can communicate with the municipal administration in another language, Dutch or French respectively. However, this arrangement has led to numerous discussions between the Dutch- and French-speaking communities. The Flemish government has tried to end this conflict with the Peeters Directive. The directive determines that French-speaking residents of the Flemish municipalities with facilities have to reapply every single time to communicate in French. The French-speaking community was not amused and questioned this interpretation of the language legislation before (a Dutch-speaking chamber of) the Council of State. However, the Council affirmed the primary status of the Dutch language in these municipalities. Some mayors, nevertheless, refused to adopt this interpretation. In turn, the Flemish government refused to appoint these mayors. Supported by their municipal council, these ‘rebellious mayors’ were nominated repeatedly after every refusal of appointment by the Flemish government An appointment carousel was born and the sixth state reform has – hitherto in vain – tried to stop it.

“After the sixth state reform, Brussels has become more than a full-fledged region. One could now call Brussels a 'super-Region' or 'Region-Community’.”

“Citizens are increasingly convinced of the idea that the inhabitants of Brussels form a group which should govern Brussels without interference from the Flemish and French Community.”

The Brussels-Capital Region has acquired many powers in the sixth state reform. Although Flemish politicians often suggest to combine transfer of powers and additional financial means for this region with an internal institutional reform of Brussels, a simplification has again not been achieved. Brussels remains a tangle of many institutions, so that a thorough structural reform is still necessary. Theoretically, several evolutions are conceivable in the future, but how does Brussels evolvein reality?

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